What God Hath Wrought

    Just twenty-five years ago the Rev, and Mrs. E. N. Richey came to Houston, Texas, with their family. At that time Mr. Richey and his son, Raymond T. Richey, were both preachers, and together accepted the pastorate of the West End Tabernacle, located at Patterson Street and Eli Avenue.

Just one year later, the oldest son, A. J. Richey and his wife moved to Houston. Although in the business world during the week, A. J. became music director and Sunday school superintendent at the Church. His wife was pianist, and both were Sunday school teachers.

The blessing of God was upon the work. Revival fires burned, the small group that welcomed the Richey family to Houston had grown into a larger group, and a little later, E. G. Gerhart moved to Houston with his family. Mrs. Gerhart is the daughter of Rev, and Mrs. E. N. Richey. Although an electrical engineer, and engaged in secular work, the heart of Mr. Gerhart was in the work of God, and God̓s word occupied much of his time.

In 1918, the old tabernacle, which had been built for revival work many years before, was torn down, and a nice, comfortable, white tabernacle was erected on the same site. Soon this proved too small and balconies and Sunday school rooms were added.

In 1921, Raymond T. Richey, and A. J. Richey, who had heard the call of God and resigned his position and gone into evangelistic work, launched a revival in a tent on the corner of McKinney and Chenevert, Houston. Soon the revival outgrew the tent and was moved into the City Auditorium. In this meeting of six weeks̓ duration, more than five thousand men and women knelt at the altar and confessed Christ, and other thousands were prayed with, for healing.

After this revival, “Dad” Richey, as his congregation lovingly and appreciatively calls him, knew that he must have help in the pastoral work: that he must have someone who could devote his entire time to this very important phase of God̓s work, and God had a man ready. Raymond and A. J. were both in the evangelistic field, but God had been talking to Mr. Gerhart and he, like Paul of old, was “not disobedient to the heavenly vision,” but obeyed the voice of God, resigned from the business world, and since that time has been devoting all his time to the business of the King, as Associate Pastor with Dad Richey—first of the Tabernacle, and then, when congregation and vision outgrew the Tabernacle, in the Evangelistic Temple, located at Capitol Avenue and Reisner Street, a few blocks from the very heart of the business district of Houston. The small group that welcomed Dad Richey and his family twenty-five years ago has grown to a congregation of several hundred members.

Looking back over the twenty-five years of unbroken service for his Lord, as pastor of one congregation, “Dad” Richey has much for which to thank God. Thousands saved, thousands healed, thousands baptised with the Holy Spirit, and watching for the coming of the Lord! When he came to Houston he had one son preaching. Today, two sons are preacher̓s, Raymond T. and A. J.; the other two sons, E. A. and L. F., are both devoting their entire time to Gospel Work; two sons-in-law, Rev. E. G. Gerhart and Rev. S. C. Wilder are preachers; one daughter, Mrs. J. C. Wilder, is an ordained preacher; another daughter Mrs. Roxa Franklin, who went to be with the Lord four years ago, was a preacher.

What a glorious Silver Jubilee! What a wonderful twenty-five years! Recently having observed his 80th birthday, “Daddy Richey” is the oldest active pastor in the City of Houston.

He is still preaching, still praying for the sick to be healed, and always waiting and watching for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Hope of the Church!